Cruise with 3 year old???

[Shawn73]

We will be taking our first cruise in June. Our son will just have turned 3 in May. He goes to daycare full time and is used to be with other children.. I am just concerned he will not enjoy being in new surroundings (the oceaneers club) and away from mom, dad and his sister (10). Have any of you left a young 3 year old in the oceaneers club? How was your experience?


Thanks!

 

[lopezgang]

We also have a 3yo boy and 9 yo girl. My son was a little shy going to the club for the first time, but then loved it and never wanted to leave. The first time we took him we stayed for a little bit and then told him we would come back in just 10 minutes. I just read a book outside the door. I checked back and he wanted to stay, but told me to come back in 10 min. We did this about 4 times that first time. I think it made him feel secure that I would come back in just a few minutes and that he could always ask for me. After that we would leave him and he never wanted to leave when we went to pick him up. We would read the navigator each day and he would pick a few things that he wanted to do. He probably spent 2-3 hours a day. He had a great time. The characters come and visit them often. They do a lot of crafts and projects. He loved the sleepover night (watch movies in their pjs).

Hope your son loves it!

 

[4formickey]

we just returned from the Magic and we took a 3yr old and a 16 month baby. My 3yr was fine on the trip but he didn't want us to leave him alone in the club. I had already decided that this trip was for the kids so I was not heart broken when he stayed by our sides. He goes to day care and will work by himself.But during this trip he wanted to stay with us. Just expect him to be with you so if he does go to the club you will be very, very happy.Their are a lot of things to do with your children on the boat that you will have fun with them.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I noticed both replies are from parents of boys. My DS will be turning 3 the day before we sail (at the Poly woohoo!) and I would like to know whether your little guys were 100% potty trained. I am hoping against hope my guy will be going 100% on the toilet by the time we visit the Mickey Boat, and it's still 4 months away, but I seriously have my doubts. So - how'd ya do it with your little ones?

 

[taeja71]

Hi, We returned from the 9/19 cruise on the Wonder. We had a 4 yr. old daughter and a 3 yr.old son in the Oceaneer club. When my kids were in the club it was a little chaotic when we dropped the kids off. I don't know if it was b/c it was pre activity time or what. Our kids are pretty easy going and active so shyness wasn't an issue for us. You get a pager w/ text messaging which felt reassuring. The characters go in the club frequently. My daughter loved the tea time with Wendy. The kids do a lot in the club. They bring home (to your cabin) their drawings w/ a magnet on the back so you can hang the pics in your stateroom. On the last night there's a graduation night. The kids get their shirt and cap w/ mickeyears and tassle. Not only that, but all the Oceaneers get to be on the big stage where the musicals are held. My kids had a great time marching down the isle and being on stage with Mickey. I don't know who was happier the kids or me that night. Got paged one kid each. One was tired and the other, my son got bored. I wish they broke down the age group further. The little ones seemed to get over run by the older kids (7yr olds) by size and activity level. Other than that our kids had a great time. Potty training? Encourage your kid about the "Mickey boat". That seemed to work for us. We also took and took our kids out at different times of the day to break up their time at the club and of course to spend time with us. There seems to be so much more I could type....I hope my mini novel was informative for you. Feel free to reply, e-mail, or PM me. Tae Ja (Mom of three: girl-boy-girl) :

 

[dzneprincess]

The very 1st time we cruised in 1998 our kids were 2 and 3. My 3 year old absolutely loved the club and we have been cruising ever since!

 

[lbgraves]

DD was just 3 when we first cruised & I went with her & DS one morning & she stayed for a couple hours that night. She never wanted to go back but we enjoyed spending the time with just her since DS loved the club. This time they are both excited about going to the club but I will wait & see how DD does. She seems to be more outgoing this year in PS so who knows what she will want to do.

 

[Rence]

In December we went on a big family trip that included my five nieces ages 3 to 7.

The just turned three year old loved the club more than any of the other girls and she spent the most time there.

Whe was newly potty trained, so her mother set her watch alarm to go off every hour. SHe'd pop in to the club and check on how her daughter was doing and making sure that she did potty as needed. This worked great and there were no accidents.

If you have a newly potty trained child, I would recommend frequent visits to make sure that everything goes well.

 

[Ga Girl]

Do you think the club will accept an almost 3 yr old, by almost I mean 45 days shy, that is 99% potty trained....if I go in every hr or so to check on him and make him go to the potty??